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Facts

Rates of substance dependence or abuse were associated with level of education in 2009. Among adults aged 18 or older, those who graduated from a college or university had a lower rate of dependence or abuse (7.5 percent) than those who graduated from high school (8.9 percent), those who did not graduate from high school (11.6 percent), and those with some college (9.9 percent).

The rate of current alcohol use among youths aged 12 to 17 was 14.6 percent in 2008, which is lower than it was in 2007, when it was 15.9 percent. Youth binge and heavy drinking rates were 8.8 and 2.0 percent, respectively. The 2008 rate for youth binge drinking is also lower than the 2007 rate, which was 9.7 percent.

In 2009, among recent initiates aged 12 to 49, the average age of first cigarette use was 17.5 years, similar to the average in 2008 (17.4 years).

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FAQ
About OxyContin

Q.) What is OxyContin?

A.) OxyContin, approved by the FDA in 1995, is an opium derivative that contains
the same active ingredient as Percodan and Percocet. OxyContin is intended for
use by terminal cancer patients and chronic pain sufferers. The structural formula
for oxycodone hydrochloride is as follows: The chemical formula is 4, 5-epoxy-14-hydroxy-3-methoxy-17-methylmorphinan-6-one
hydrochloride. OxyContin is designed so that the oxycodone is slowly released
over time.

Of the various strengths of OxyContin, the most commonly abused and diverted
strength is the 40 mg tablets, although all strengths (10 mg, 20 mg, 40 mg,
80 mg, and 160 mg.) have been encountered.

Q.) What are the slang terms used for OxyContin?

A.) Below is a list of common slang terms used for OxyContin:

40 = OxyContin pill

40 = OxyContin pill

80 = OxyContin pill

Doctor shopping = The practice of going from doctor to doctor to obtain
prescriptions for pharmaceuticals

Hillbilly heroin = OxyContin

Kicker = OxyContin

Oxy = OxyContin

Oxycotton = OxyContin

Pharming = Consuming a mixture of prescription substances

Pill ladies = Female senior citizens who sell OxyContin

Q.) How does OxyContin work?

A.) OxyContin is an opiate agonist. Opiate agonists provide pain relief by
acting on opioid receptors in the spinal cord, brain, and possibly in the tissues
directly. Opioids, natural or synthetic classes of drugs that act like morphine,
are the most effective pain relievers available. OxyContin is manufactured by
modifying an alkaloid found in opium. OxyContin is a central nervous system
depressant. OxyContin's action appears to work through stimulating the opioid
receptors found in the central nervous system that activate responses ranging
from analgesia to respiratory depression and euphoria.

Q.) How is OxyContin used?

A.) When used properly, OxyContin contains a time-release mechanism that spreads
the release of the drug over a 12-hour period. The time-release mechanism can
be circumvented by crushing the tablet and the drug can be used in one of the
following ways:

The tablets can be chewed

The tablets can be crushed, then snorted like cocaine

The tablets can be crushed, dissolved in water, then injected like heroin

Q.) Why would someone abuse OxyContin?

A.) OxyContin abuse is spreading for a variety of reasons. First, the elevated
opiate dosage makes it highly addictive. Second, in contrast to drugs such as
cocaine or heroin that can be laced with other substances, with OxyContin you
know how much of the drug you are getting. Since the dosage is consistent, it
delivers a dependable high. Finally, OxyContin is covered by most health insurance
plans, so it is significantly cheaper than street drugs.

OxyContin Abuse is becoming a wide spread problem in America. OxyContin is
a leading treatment for chronic pain, but officials fear it may succeed crack
cocaine on the street. The DEA says it is only a matter of time before every
community in the country is confronted with the problem of OxyContin abuse.
No prescription drug in the last 20 years has been so widely abused after its
release, federal officials say.

Q.) What are the effects of OxyContin?

A.) OxyContin will give you a high much like high grade heroin but with worse
consequences. A 5mg tablet of OxyContin has has as many active ingredients as
1 Percocet. So, chewing or snorting a 40mg tablet of OxyContin is similar to
taking 8 Percocets at once. An 80mg tablet of OxyContin is like taking 16 Percocets
all at once.

Users of OxyContin might experience:

euphoria

relaxation

calm

stoned / high

Q.) What are the side effects of OxyContin?

A.) Respiratory depression is the chief hazard of OxyContin. Respiratory depression
occurs most frequently in elderly or debilitated patients, usually following
large initial doses in non-tolerant patients. There is also a big risk when
OxyContin is given in conjunction with other substances that depress respiration.
Common OxyContin side effects are constipation, nausea, sedation, dizziness,
vomiting, headache, dry mouth, sweating, and weakness.

The side effects of OxyContin include but are not limited to:

Gastrointestinal Tract and Other Smooth Muscle
Oxycodone causes a reduction in motility associated with an increase in smooth
muscle tone in the antrum of the stomach and duodenum. Digestion of food in
the small intestine is delayed and propulsive contractions are decreased.
Propulsive peristaltic waves in the colon are decreased, while tone may be
increased to the point of spasm resulting in constipation. Other opioid-induced
effects may include a reduction in gastric, biliary and pancreatic secretions,
spasm of sphincter of Oddi, and transient elevations in serum amylase.

Concentration--Efficacy Relationships (Pharmacodynamics)
Studies in normal volunteers and patients reveal predictable relationships
between oxycodone dosage and plasma oxycodone concentrations, as well as between
concentration and certain expected opioid effects. In normal volunteers these
include pupillary constriction, sedation and overall "drug effect"
and in patients, analgesia and feelings of "relaxation." In non-tolerant
patients, analgesia is not usually seen at a plasma oxycodone concentration
of less than 5&10 mg/mL.

Q.) What is OxyContin addiction?

A.) Physical addiction to OxyContin which is sometimes unavoidable develops
when an individual is exposed to OxyContin at a high enough dose for an extended
period of time. The user's body adapts and develops a tolerance for the OxyContin.
This means that higher doses are needed to achieve the drug's original effects.
OxyContin mimics the action of chemicals in your brain that send messages of
pleasure to your brain's reward center. It produces an artificial feeling of
pleasure. OxyContin is able to produce pleasurable effects by acting like normal
brain messenger chemicals, which produce positive feelings in response to signals
from the brain.

The result is of the predictable drug which, short circuits interests in and
the motivation to make life's normal rewards work. More and more confidence
is placed in OxyContin while other survival feelings are ignored and bypassed.
The result of this addiction cycle is a lack of concern for, and confidence
in, other areas of life.

Q.) What are the symptoms of OxyContin withdrawal?

A.) OxyContin withdrawal is similar heroin withdrawal in that it is almost
impossible to go through alone. Withdrawal symptoms of OxyContin are worse than
heroin and last longer. Professional help from a drug rehab center is the best
and safest way to do this. Unfortunately, there is no known "painless"
method for OxyContin withdrawal.

OxyContin withdrawal symptoms include but are not limited to:

perpetually being tired

hot/cold sweats

heart palpitations

joints and muscles in constant pain

vomiting

nausea

uncontrollable coughing

diarrhea

insomnia

watery eyes

excessive yawning

depression

Q.) What are the symptoms of an OxyContin overdose?

A.) OxyContin is designed so that the oxycodone is slowly released over time,
allowing it to be used twice daily. You should never break, chew, or crush the
OxyContin tablet since this causes a large amount of oxycodone to be released
from the tablet all at once. This could potentially result in a dangerous or
fatal OxyContin overdose.

An overdose of OxyContin is serious and may require hospitalization. Occasionally,
the individual needs to be temporarily hooked to a ventilator to help him breath
until the OxyContin wears off.

Indications of an OxyContin overdose are:

slow breathing (respiratory depression)

seizures

dizziness

weakness

loss of consciousness

coma

confusion

tiredness

cold and clammy skin

small pupils

reduced vision

nausea

vomiting

clouding of mental functions

Q.) How is OxyContin detox accomplished?

A.) OxyContin detox is accomplished similarly to other drug detoxification.
The individual is stepped down slowly off their dose of OxyContin until they
no longer physically need to take it. Without this process, the withdrawal symptoms
from OxyContin may be so severe that OxyContin detox may seem impossible to
the individual.

OxyContin detox not only helps in easing the withdrawal symptoms experienced
by the individual, but it also helps in the path of OxyContin addiction recovery.
Detox from OxyContin is invaluable to recovery because it helps in diminishing
cravings for OxyContin as well as ridding the body of harmful toxins deposited
during OxyContin use.

Q.) What steps are currently being taken to address the widespread abuse
of OxyContin?

A.) DEAs approach to dealing with the abuse and diversion of OxyContin®
is consistent with the methods normally used in combating the diversion of pharmaceutical
controlled substances. These approaches include; liaison with the healthcare
community, the pharmaceutical industry, and other domestic and international
agencies; education of medical professionals regarding various scams that are
used to obtain controlled substances for illicit purposes; and the investigation
of suspected diverters.

Q.) What are some fast facts about OxyContin?

A.)

OxyContin, approved by the FDA in 1995, is a time-released form of oxycodone,
an opium derivative, which is the same active ingredient in Percodan and Percocet.

The powerful prescription pain reliever has become a hot new street drug
that has resulted in more than 120 deaths nationwide.

Addiction and abuse of the drug, crime, and fatal overdoses have all been
reported as a result of OxyContin use.

OxyContin is intended for use by terminal cancer patients and chronic pain
sufferers.

It has been reported that OxyContin sales exceeded $1 billion in the United
States in the year 2000.

Q.) What is the history of OxyContin?

A.) Oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin®, is a semi-synthetic
opiate derived from thebaine, an element of morphine. Oxycodone has been in
medical use for moderate to severe pain for many years, under a variety of brand
names. Two drawbacks of the previously available brands are; they are available
only in low dosages, so some patients must take many pills a day to get relief;
they are found in combination with other drugs, like acetaminophen or aspirin,
which can cause dangerous side effects when taken in large quantities.

OxyContin® went on the market in 1996. For patients with serious, ongoing
pain, the drug is highly preferable to previous brands because it avoids their
two drawbacks. OxyContin® contains no other active ingredients which can
cause side effects. It comes in larger dosages with a special timed-release
coating, so patients may take only two pills a day.

Legal sales of OxyContin® in 1996 reportedly totaled about $40 million.
By 2000, sales were greater than $1 billion, making it the number one narcotic
pain relief pill. Most of the pills sold are believed to have been used by legitimate
patients.

In May 2001 OxyContin®s manufacturer voluntarily stopped selling
their 160 milligram pill. The dosage in these pills, if taken all at once, could
kill a first-time user. Critics of the company feared that this move would not
have much of an effect, as the 160 mg pills only made up about 1% of the total
amount of OxyContin® available.

Purdue Pharma announced in early August 2001 that they are working on a new
formulation of the drug that would make it harder to abuse. Such a formulation
could take three years or more to come to market, however.